Okay. You may be ready to panic and scream if you saw this:
CoachingSearch.com doesn’t do permalinks, so it is in their ticker for today.
Naturally Ross Kolodziej played at Wisconsin and spent2012 as a grad assistant at Wisconsin before becoming Pitt’s Assistant S&C Coach (PDF, pg. 35).
But, no way. No way could he be made the Strength and Conditioning Coach at ANY 1A school. Not these days. That would be gross incompetence. The job is too important these days. He’s had one year of experience as an assistant. That would be like promoting a young guy after his first year as a position coach to be a coordinator…
Oh. No.
Per his Pitt bio:
“He owns a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Wisconsin and also has a certification in USA weightlifting, level 1.”
Okay, maybe “level 1” is something significant. Surely it means something good:
Level 1 Sport Performance Certification
Course Description: The purpose of this course is to take all participants through complete technical progressions of the Snatch, Clean & Jerk, and all associated movements including Power Snatch, Power Clean, Power Jerk, Squat variations, and pulling progressions. Participants will gain base line knowledge about the programming of training and technical rules. The course includes theoretical classroom, and practical hands-on portions. Course duration is over one weekend and lasts approximately 13-14 hours with up to 9 hours being practical and 4-5 hours lecture based. It is suitable for Strength & Conditioning /Sports Performance, Health & Fitness and beginning level competitive Weightlifting Coaches alike.
Included Materials: Course manual, video and one (1) year USAW membership and certification.
Prerequisites: There are no prerequisites for this course and no level of education or coaching background required.
I really, really, really hope this is a bad source. In the mean time I need to hyperventilate into a paper bag for a few minutes.
Ross Kolodziej was a Two-Time Captain at Wisconsin and performed really well at the NFL Combine, pretty damn athletic for a D-Lineman.
Just about anyone can learn the techniques used for Strength and Conditioning. I’m sure there are loads of conferences S&C Coaches can attend and books to read.
But the one thing you can’t NECESSARILY learn is how to be a MOTIVATOR.
If Kolodziej can motivate kids to push themselves… then he’ll probably get results.
One thing for sure, kids will respect him due to the fact that he’s been there and done it… especially the Combine and the NFL.
With that alone… he’s got an edge going in even without the resume.
30th in the AP, 26th in coaches.
..Iowa loses last night and goes up 3 spots
If Chryst were Dixon we’d average 9 wins per season with 5 conference wins (.759 / .669 winning percentage) and lose all of our BCS bowls.
I could handle that.
Seriously, Chryst has been here how long? He deserves the opportunity to see just how all of his pieces come together.
Granted, I was really disappointed with the House promotion. But this is not nearly the same.
Kolodziej is a PROVEN commodity in a College Lockerroom. Also has gone further than the majority of players will ever go by being invited to the Combine, being drafted… and playing Pro Football for several years.
Do you think this guy ever had any exposure to Strength and Conditioning coaching? No, of course not.
Even on paper with just the one year as Ass’t S&C Coach… this makes a lot more sense than the House promotion.
To not see that… is being pretty shortsighted.
It all comes down to “Is this guy a Motivator and do the players respect him?”
I’m guessing the answer to the second part of the question is an ABSOLUTE “Yes.” We’ll eventually learn about the other.
I’m not renewing my season tickets, I can tell you that!
S,,,,A,,,,R,,,,C,,,,A,,,,S,,,,M
It is more than just motivation or lifting weights. It’s about putting the right program in place for players to develop. It is about helping to develop that program.
It is also about liability. We’ve seen players at Iowa pushed too hard for mass Rhabdo.
link to usatoday30.usatoday.com
Erick Plancher at UCF is died during conditioning drills.
And Pitt is going to let a beginner oversee and be responsible for over 100 kids and their workout regimens?
Just look at S&C coaches even at low 1A programs.
Toledo:
link to utrockets.com
7 yrs prior experience. Masters degree in education.
Louisiana-Lafayette:
link to ragincajuns.com
Masters in Kinesiology from Texas while he was a GA, and more than 10 yrs experience.
This is not just bad for the football team. This strikes me as reckless and dangerous.
Keep in mind that nothing official has been announced.
Maybe it is all just a rumor after all…
Chas is VERY right here guys the kids spend all year with a S&C Coach not just football time. It’s a VERY important position.
FYI – Chas Alexcih just signed 1 year deal with KC Chiefs
UPONE, Brianna Kiessel, who averaged 23 pts and 7 assists, was named ACC player of the week
Just to play devil’s advocate, maybe Tino could have done some of those things if he played behind stronger or less injured offensive lines, or had more effective defenses to require less of Pitt’s offense
You probably aren’t aware that due to NCAA rules the S&C staff are the only ones in the off-season and particularly the summer, who can supervise drills. The top programs hire experienced, strong leaders who run the on-the-field drills from spring until fall. It is HUGELY important for the program to be a program, and to compliment what the positional coaches need implemented, from route running to throwing to coverage, etc. The last guy didn’t know jack and worse yet tried to bullshit his way through it and make crap up and it showed.
Included Materials: Course manual, video and one (1) year USAW membership and certification.
Prerequisites: There are no prerequisites for this course and no level of education or coaching background required.
I really, really, really hope this is a bad source. In the mean time I need to hyperventilate into a paper bag for a few minutes.
Too funny Chas……lmao
This is so so PITT football ! The Black Comedy continues.
Maybe I’ll apply after taking a 30 day course at the local Community College or YMCA. Yes/No
Once the course is processed, you will receive an email with your score and instructions to log on to your membership account to print your membership card and coaching certificate.
I always like to be able to print out my coaching certificate. In case any D1 jobs open up.
It won’t be to an unranked team and therefore Cuse won’t drop as much in the polls.
Seen this ploy done plenty in the past, both football & hoops.
That dude needs to end up in the East River.
That was incredibly taxing just glancing at it for a couple minutes.
And Pitt is going to let a beginner oversee and be responsible for over 100 kids and their workout regimens?
Just look at S&C coaches even at low 1A programs.
Toledo:
link to utrockets.com
7 yrs prior experience. Masters degree in education.
Louisiana-Lafayette:
link to ragincajuns.com
Masters in Kinesiology from Texas while he was a GA, and more than 10 yrs experience.
This is not just bad for the football team. This strikes me as reckless and dangerous.
Comment by Chas 01.06.14 @ 3:03 pm
This is in keeping with the theory that PITT BOT and idiot Cornhole are very happy with mediocrity or worse.
How could the great Cornhole sign off on yet another Wisconsin crony with no experience to run the S & C year long program with a BCS football storied history.
What are we training all these neophytes so then they can back to Wisconsin some day, having done their ‘on the job training’ and experimenting at PITT. It’s like the Wisconsin Proving Grounds for anyone in Wisconsin who ever wanted to coach in college at a D1 school. The disorganization has been apparent at many levels with this staff. And now it be all the down to the S & C level.
link to en.wikipedia.org
Comment by Atlanta Panther 01.06.14 @ 3:31 pm
Calhoun is another neophyte. 29 years old.
lol
Comment by Td 01.06.14 @ 3:36 pm
Only the kids who develop chronic back & knee problems.
I’m guessing you’re not involved in ever recruiting, hiring and training ppl.
Hopefully 13 years experience and accolades from players such as Russell Wilson will be enough to calm some of the critics.
he will take who he wants he is very good i kind of wish golden had got the job.
chryst could hang with golden but not with franklin
